Cue-rack



(No Model.)

J. DOGKSTADBR.l

GUE RACK.

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a s 4 Q s WTNESSES: [,i Z Z s t s Patented Jn. 3, 1893.

Fig-"2 'INVENTORZ mx/W7 f' Q ATTORNEYS Unirse STATES PATENT Ormes.

JAMES DOOKSTADER, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK.

CUE-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,373, dated January 3, 1898.

' i Application filed August 17, 1892. Serial No. 443284. (No model.)

To all whom, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DocKsTADER, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Cue-Racks, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the class of cueracks which are provided with means for locking the cue or cues in the rack so that only the person authorized to use the cue can obtain access thereto.

The object ofthe invention is to provide more convenient and efficient means for locking and unlocking the cue to and from the rack as aforesaid and to allow said locking devices to be readily applied to an ordinary cue-rack.

To that end the invention consists essentially of a cue-rack comprising two abutments facing opposite ends of the cue and a distance apart to permit a limited longitudinal play of the cue, and a cue-holder movable lengthwise of the cue from one end thereof to'a distance greater than the length of the aforesaid play and thereby confining the cue in the rack'.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the aforesaid abutments and cueholder, of a lock confining the holder in its elevated position and thereby locking the cue in the rack, and adapted to release the holder and liberate the cue.

The invention furthermore consists in certain novel features of -its detail construction and adjuncts all as hereinafter more fully described and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings Figure lis a front view of a cue-rack embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line az, in Fig. l, Fig. 3 -is an enlarged Vertical transverse section of the cue-locking devices at the base of the'rack, Fig. 4 is a rear view of said portion of the rack, and Fig. 5 is a detached plan view of the cue-holder.

lower parts of which are framed the ornamental front cross-plates A-A- and the shelf -B- upon which the cue rests with its base, and the perforated guide-plate -O- through which the tip-ends of the cues pass and are thus sustained in an upright position. Thus far the rack is ofthe usual and Well known construction.

My invention consists in the following appliances: Above the cue-guide --C- and projecting across the perforation thereof is a snitable stop -D-, preferably of the form of a plate extending across the rack and secured thereto. This stop and the shelf or cue-rest -B- serve as two abutments facing opposite ends of the cue and a sufficient distance apart to permit a limited longitudinal movement of the cue. A short distance above the cue-rest -B- is the vertically movable cue-holder which may be of any suitable shape adapted to loosely embrace the base of the cue. I preferably form said holder of a collar -aadapted to slide freely vertically on the base portion of the cue. To this collar is rigidly attached or formed integral therewith a vertical stem -bextending downward therefrom and through a vertical perforation in the shelf or cue-rest -B- in which aperture the stem is adapted to freely slide up and down. In connection with each of said collars ctand its stem -b- I employ a suitable lock -Z- secured to the lower crossplate -A- beneath the cue-seat -B. The bolt of this lock is in the path of the stem JJ- and adapted to engage and release the same. The collar is allowed a free vertical movement to a distance somewhat greater than the length of the vertical play allowed to the cue by the stop -D-, said movement of the collar being limited by the cross-bar -cwhich is secured` to the stiles -A-A- and is in the path of the collar. The stem -his of such a' length and the lock -Z is in such a position as to cause said stem to rest upon the bolt of thelock when the collar ctis raised to its extreme elevation, in which position it is thus retained. The collar embracing the cue confines the same in the rack. The lock is provided with a key by which the bolt can be retracted when desired to release the stem Zn-- and thus allow the collar -ato IOO drop onto the cue-rest -B. This position of the collar allows the cue to be lifted out and removed from the rack.

I preferably employ a lock which is provided with a spring-actuated bolt forced automatically into its locking position. Such a lock causes the bolt to automatically pass under the lower end of the stem -bwhen the collar ais raised to its extreme elevation, and thus the cue becomes locked in the rack Without the use of the key.

In order to properly guide the collar-din its vertical movement and maintain the saule in proper axial position in relation to the cue to be held thereby, Iattach to the collar an upwardly extending stem -Z)-' which extends into a vertical perforation in the crossbar -c--and enters a vertical tube dsecured to the said cross-bar and to a second cross-bar -c above the cross-bar -c and secured to the stiles A-A-.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iszl. A cue-rack comprising two abutments facing opposite ends of the cue and a distance apart to permita limited longitudinal play of the cue, and a cue-holder movable lengthwise of the cue from one end thereof to a distance greater than the length of the aforesaid play and thereby confine the cue in the rack, as set forth.

2. A cue-rack provided with a seat upon which the cue rests, a guide through which the tip end of the cue passes, a stop above said guide to limit the vertical movement of the cue, a vertically movable holder embracing the base of the cue, and a lock confining the holder inits elevated position and adapted to release the same as set forth.

3. In a cue-rack, the combination, with the cue-rest and cue-guide supporting respectively opposite ends of the cue, a stop above the guide for limiting the longitudinal movement of the cue, a collar loosely embracingr the base of the cue, a vertical stem fixed to the collar, and a lock on the rack adapted to engage and releasesaid stem as set forth.

4. In a cue-rack, the combination, With the cue-rest and cue-guide supporting respectively opposite ends of the cue, a stop above the guide for limiting the longitudinal Inovement of the cue, a collar loosely embracing the base of the cue, vertical stems fixed to and extending respectively up and down from the collar, guides on the rack receiving the said stem through them, and a lock adapted to engage and release the lower stem, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the stiles -A-A- and perforated guide-plate -C, the stop -D above said guide-plate, the cue-rest or shelf-B- provided with one or more vertical perforations, a corresponding number of cueholding collars -aabove said cue-rest, a vertical stem --`bon each of said collars passing through one of the perforations ofthe cue-rest, alock secured to the rack under said stem and adapted to engage and release the same, the stem -b' extending upward from the collar, the cross-bar c-in the path of the collar, the cross-bar--cabove the first cross bar, and the tube --dsecured to said crossbars and guiding the stem -bwithin it, substantially as described and shown.

JAMES DOCKSTADER.

Witnesses:

H. M. SEAMANs, C. L. BENDIXON. 

